the estate, Mr. Alexander Rudden, who proceeded in a small way to develop the oil by digging pits to the depth of twenty or thirty feet, which were found to yield considerable oil. He communicated the result of his operations to Mr. Prentice, who responded to his invitations to join with him in the search for oil. In the fall of 1863 a well was sunk in one of the pits above mentioned. At the depth of 140 feet from the surface, and 60 feet below the ocean level, a vein of oil was struck, but the yield was small. Mr. Rudden became discouraged, and suspended further operations in this line. At this juncture, Mr. Prentice communicated with a relative of the same name, in Western Pennsylvania, as stated above, and earnestly invited his attention to this new field. In the year 1867 operations were begun in earnest. A well was put down near Zorritos; at the depth of 146 feet a volcanic formation was reached by the drill, and oil was found; this well yielded by means of the pump 60 barrels per day; we are not informed how long it continued to produce that quantity. A second well was drilled to the depth of 230 feet, piercing a second vein of oil; the results of this operation were disappointing, being only 10 or 12 barrels per day. Being satisfied, however, of the existence of oil on this tract, and that with proper management it would yield a profitable return to the investment of capital, he proceeded first to negotiate with the proprietors of the property to secure the entire control of the oil interest thereof. This having been accomplished, a stock company with ample capital was organized, and in the year

1876 another well was drilled to the depth of nearly 500 feet; at this depth the tools dropped into a fissure-in the true oil-bearing sand-and oil commenced to flow through a 6-inch casing at the estimated rate of 1000 barrels a day. Another well was shortly after put down in the same vicinity, and yielded 600 barrels per day. It is stated that there are some points of resemblance in topography and its geological formations between this oil territory and that of Western Pennsylvania.

"It is a singular coincidence that this oil belt corresponds with the oil region of Pennsylvania, as both are. intersected by the 80th degree of longitude. It is also worthy of note that the mountain range of the Andes to the east contains large deposits of anthracite coal, and that this coal deposit is about the same distance from the oil field of Peru as our Allegheny anthracite deposit is from the Pennsylvania oil region. A coating of sand about. eight inches thick covers the surface of the Peruvian oil field. A fossiliferous deposit of marine remains is found on the surrounding hills from 250 to 300 feet above the level of the sea. The same deposits are also found on the bottom of the lands, which proves that this part of the continent has at some period of time been covered by the sea. From all wells struck on this territory great volumes of gas continually issue. The gravity of the oil is from 40° to 50° Baumé. In color it is a little darker than Pennsylvania oil, and has the same odor. It yields, when refined, from 70 to 75 per cent. of 110° fire-test oil, and is a superior article. The company refines its own

oil, and finds a ready market for its product on the Pacific coast, Australia, and New Zealand. The company is known as the Peruvian Oil Company; capital, $5,000,000."1

Ecuador.

This province of South America lying immediately north of Peru, resembles it so closely, topographically and geologically, that we are quite prepared to learn from the recent geological report to the government of Ecuador of the existence of petroleum in this country. Raymond de Peiger, engineer and geologist to the government, in his report to the President of the Republic, says: "Petroleum is to be found in this country in very large quantities. On a surface of about four square leagues from the sulphurous spring of San Vicente to the seashore, wells have been sunk and the bituminous matter obtained in a liquid state. Its consistence is not the same in the different wells. In some of these it is fluid like whale oil, in others it has the consistence of butter at ordinary temperature. At the surface or upper part of many wells it can be seen in compact hard masses, which probably have been formed by the evaporation of the liquid. This oil has a darkbrownish color, which gets darker with the greater consistence of the oil. In one place where it oozes from the bed of a dried-up stream, the bituminous matter has a greenish color. Its smell is not disagreeable, which is gene

1 Henry. Early and Later History of Petroleum, Phila., 1873.

rally the case with many of the American and especially the Canadian oils. As the inhabitants have neither the knowledge nor the implements required, the works are very crude. Pits from ten to twelve feet deep are dug into the sand till clay is reached, and when the oil, which oozes from all sides, has filled them, it is dipped out. Near the wells are primitive furnaces built with sun-dried clay, on which are open iron boilers. The bituminous matter is thrown into these vessels and cooked until all the volatile

products disappear, leaving a thick pitch. It is not supposed that the petroleum has been formed in the upper sandy deposits. Its presence there can only be explained by the escape of the bituminous matter from the fissures in which it was contained. We may then safely admit that although large quantities of oil are to be found in the sand, it is only the mere waste of the real springs. Deeper sinking without any doubt would be very profitable and yield immense proportions of petroleum." The proximity of this oil territory to the sea certainly gives to it important commercial advantages. At a very small expense oil may be brought to the port of Santa Elena by means of pipes. It has been said that the oil territory above described has been leased for a long term of years to a company of American capitalists, who are preparing to develop the same.

Alsace.

The first authentic record of the discovery of petroleum in this part of the world informs us that it was first seen

in this ancient province of Germany on the border of the Rhine in the year 1735 by Dr. Antoine Le Bell, a naturalist and close observer. It was observed at or near the surface. Its greasy unctuous qualities first attracted his notice; a close examination of its character and qualities revealed the fact that it was one of the many forms of rock oil. He experimented with it as a lubricator, and being satisfied with its results, proceeded at once to develop the hidden wealth of his estate. He sank a shaft, and at the depth of fifty feet uncovered the sand rock rich in oil. It appears from the facts that we are able to gather, that the texture of this rock is wholly different from the sand rocks or oil-bearing strata of Western Pennsylvania. It is more compact, more finely grained and tenacious in structure. The oil does not flow freely from it. The sandstone was therefore quarried very much as coal is mined-drawn up in buckets to the surface. The first product of this mining operation was subjected to a very crude process in order to extract the oil from it. It was placed in large iron cauldrons covered with water, and heat applied; as the oil was thus "boiled out," it rose to the surface of the water and was skimmed off. At the present time two processes are employed, viz: the one just described, and distillation. from iron retorts similar to those used in other parts of Europe for the distillation of bituminous shale. Excavations have been made three hundred feet deep and the miners descend to their work lighted by Davy safety lamps, which they strap to their breasts. The property is still in the possession of the Le Bell family. The character of